With January now a distant memory and the second month of the New Year well under way, how are your resolutions coming along? Research shows that within two weeks, 39% of people have already given up! And exercise usually tops the list of declarations most quickly ditched! If you find going to the gym tedious, don’t worry, New York has plenty of unconventional exercise options available. From ‘Plyo Dance’ to ‘AKT in Motion,’ our pick of unusual workouts should cater to all interests and fitness levels.

How many fitness classes can you truly say that you don’t want to stop? Plyo Dance is a heart pounding, leg burning, and fat incinerating experience like no other fitness class. Using ‘Kangoos’ (best described as a type of moon boot with springs attached), you will take up to 80% of the shock off your knees and other joints allowing you to work harder for longer getting maximum results in the shortest amount of time. You can burn up to 50% more calories, increase your VO2 Max, and get an intense core workout. Also with Plyo Dance, because of the rush of endorphins, you never get bored and look forward to working out! More information can be found here - https://mariogodivafitness.com/plyo-dance-plyo-athlete.

Most people associate hula hooping with a children’s game played in school - but did you know it’s actually a serious calorie burner? An hour of intense hooping can burn as many calories as an hour-long run on a treadmill. A great form of alternative aerobic exercise set to fun music, it tones and strengthens your core muscles and helps improve cardiovascular endurance. There are a plethora of classes to pick from across NYC - http://www.troohoops.com/hoop_classes.php - provides schedules and class descriptions or if you want to practice in the privacy of our own from home, Troohoops sells all the merchandise, you’ll need. http://www.troohoops.com/

Waiting for good weather to hit the waves and get in a good surf? No need. SURFSET Fitness is a surf-inspired workout designed to get you that long and lean surfer physique. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or experienced surfer; the board itself has different stability cords in order to accommodate any fitness level. People burn anywhere from 450 - 900 calories during a 45-minute class by performing surf-specific moves like “Duck Dives” and “Pop-ups” through to yoga and Pilates-infused moves to strength training and cardio with paddling thrown into the mix. Surfset workouts will challenge your core and improve your balance whether you are sitting, laying down or standing up and riding through the workout waves. For general class and location information, visit http://www.surfsetfitness.com/.

Looking for a super-toned body like Kelly Ripa or Sarah Jessica Parker? Why not try AKT IN MOTION, which is a unique combination of strength training, cardio, toning, and stretching. AKT’s teachers are conditioning specialists with expertise in Pilates, the Czech method, TRX, injury prevention, pre- and post-natal exercise. Best of all, AKT is not just about giving people a good sweat and then saying goodbye, they will personalize the program for you! AKT IN MOTION gives people the knowledge to make sure results last with frequent check-ins, customized programs, and matching students to nutritional experts for healthier habits in and out of class. All class and program details can be found at http://aktinmotion.com/. Voted ‘Best Hybrid Workout 2012’ by New York magazine, the ‘Bari Method’ specializes in equal parts anaerobic and aerobic exercises. A combination of Pilates, dance, yoga and resistance training, classes are high-energy and low impact. You will work your entire body targeting your smaller muscles so your larger muscles don’t bulk, all designed to help you achieve the long and lean "Bari body”. Bari studios offer classes throughout the city - http://www.thebaristudio.com/. With so many alternative exercise options available around NYC, there is simply no excuse for not working out during these cold months!- Natalia Sloam